[edit]Background
Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem
Mitri Raheb was born in Bethlehem, in 1962. He pursued his higher education in Germany, first at Hermannsburg Mission Seminary (1980–1984) and then at Philipps University in Marburg, Germany (1984–1988), where he completed his graduate studies including a doctorate in theology.
He returned to Bethlehem in 1988 to serve as the pastor of the
Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church (Christmas Lutheran Church), and
serving as the managing editor of the Al-Liqa’ Journal for religious and heritage studies in the Holy Land (1992–1996).[1]
Since 1992, Raheb has founded and led a number of projects and
institutions serving the social needs of Palestinians living in the
Bethlehem area, focusing specifically on women, children, youth, and the
elderly.[2]
He currently lives in Bethlehem with his wife and two daughters.

[edit]Official Positions
2011 - President of the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & The Holy Land
2006 - Founder & President of Diyar Consortium
2006 - Founder & President of Dar al-Kalima College
2004 - Co-Founder & President of Bright Starts of Bethlehem
1988 - Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, Bethlehem[edit]Organizations
Beginning with the Abu Gubran Guest House and the Authentic Tourism
Program in 1992, Raheb has founded a number of institutions serving the
Bethlehem area.[3]

1992: The Abu Gubran Guest House (Arabic: بيت الضيافة أبو جبران‎) and Authentic Tourism Program (now part of the ICB)

[edit]The Diyar Consortium
The Diyar Consortium is an umbrella organization that is responsible
for the administration of its component institutions: the ICB, the Dar
Al-Kalima Health & Wellness Center, and the Dar Al-Kalima College.
“Diyar” (Arabic: ديار‎) is the plural of “dar” (Arabic: دار‎),
meaning “house” or “homeland” in Arabic. It is headed by its president,
Raheb, who is responsible for the overall vision of the consortium and
securing funds for continuous growth. The consortium is governed by a
Board of Directors, whose members come from diverse religious and
vocational backgrounds, and administered by an executive committee and
three program committees (for health, culture, and education).[4][edit]The International Center of Bethlehem (Dar Annadwa Addawliyya)
The International Center of Bethlehem, or Dar Annadwa Addawliyya (Arabic: دار الندوة الدولية‎), meaning “The House of Worldwide Encounter”) is located in Madbasseh Square, in central Bethlehem, about half a mile (.8 km) from Manger Square.
A number of initiatives operate under the aegis of the ICB.[5] These include:

The Ad-Dar Cultural and Conference Center

The Al-Kahf Gallery and Arts & Crafts Center (independently, and in cooperation with the Dar Al-Kalima College)

The Bethlehem Media Center (independently, and in conjunction with the Dar Al-Kalima College)

The Bright Stars Program (in cooperation with the Dar Al-Kalima Model School)

The Abu Gubran Guest House and the Authentic Tourism Program

The Il’Iliyeh Restaurant and Al-Kuz Bar & Café

The Ajyal (“Generations”, Arabic: أجيال) community care program for the elderly

The Azwaj (“Couples”, Arabic: أزواج) group for young couples and families

The ICB complex comprises the old Lutheran School building, the
former church offices, and three other buildings. The Ad-Dar Cultural
and Conference Center and other modern parts of the building were
designed by Finnish architect Juha Leiviskä.[6] The ICB complex sustained significant damage when it was occupied for 3 days by the Israeli army during the siege of Bethlehem in April 2002. Reconstruction and restoration costs totaled more than US$500,000.[7][edit]The Dar Al-Kalima Model School
The Dar Al-Kalima Model School (Arabic: مدرسة دار الكلمة النموذجية‎),
meaning “The House of the Word”) is located on the hilltop Mt. Murair
campus and serves students in grades K-12. The school is coeducational
and Lutheran-based, serving both Christian and Muslim students from the
towns, villages, and refugee camps of the Bethlehem area.[8]
The Extra-Curricular Program after school offers students the
opportunity to receive instruction in their specific, chosen areas of
interest from professionals in those fields.[9]
The Bright Stars program (run through the ICB) is similar to the ECP
program, but it meets once a week and is open to children who attend
schools other than Dar Al-Kalima.[10]
The Dar al-Kalima Complex
[edit]The Dar Al-Kalima Health & Wellness Center
The Health & Wellness Center is also located on the hilltop Mt.
Murair campus, on the ground level of the building that houses the Dar
Al-Kalima Model School. It houses health clinics (audiology, nutrition, endocrinology, cardiology, and psychotherapy) as well as fitness facilities and programming, including a swimming pool and sauna, yoga and aerobics classes, and exercise machines.[11]
The aims of the Health & Wellness Center are prevention through
promotion of healthy lifestyles, and providing specialist care not
available elsewhere in the southern West Bank.[12][edit]The Dar Al-Kalima College
The College began operating in 2006 from the ICB complex in Madbasseh Square, offering diploma courses in documentary film-making and glass and ceramic art. The College received accreditation in 2007 from the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education for Bachelor’s degree programs in contemporary fine art, multimedia and tourism studies.[13][edit]Publications
Raheb has written 13 books and numerous articles on issues relating
to interfaith dialogue, social transformation, contextual theology, and
culture, many of them available in over 10 languages, including Korean,
Japanese, Chinese, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, English, German,
and Arabic.[14]
Mitri Raheb, The Invention of History: A Century of Interplay between
Theology and Politics in Palestine, (Bethlehem: Diyar Publisher 2011).
Id., Qass Collings, Rifat Odeh, Palestinian Christians: Facts, Figures and Trends, (Bethlehem: Diyar Publisher 2008).
Id., God’s Reign and People’s Rule, (Berlin: Aphorisma 2007).
Id., Bethlehem hinter Mauern, (Guetersloh: Guetersloher Verlaghouse 2005).
Id., Bethlehem Besieged, (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress 2004). Id.;
Fred Strickert, Bethlehem 2000 - Past and Present, (Heidelberg: Palmyra
Verlag 1998). id.; Fred Strickert, Bethlehem 2000 – Mehr als Stern und
Stall, (Heidelberg: Palmyra Verlag 1998).
Id., I am a Palestinian Christian, (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress
1995). Id., Ulrike Bechman (ed.), Verwurzelt im Heiligen Land, (Hamburg:
Knecht Verlag 1995). Id., Ich bin Christ und Palaestinenser. Israel,
seine Nachbarn und die Bibel, (Guetersloh: Guetersloher Verlaghouse
1994).
Id., Das reformatorische Erbe unter den Palaestinensern: zur
Enstehung der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Jordanien, (Guetersloh:
Guetersloher Verlaghouse 1990).
متري الراهب وآخرون، كريمة عبود : رائدة التصوير النسوي في فلسطين 1893-1940، (بيت لحم: ديار للنشر 2011
متري الراهب، الدين والدولة، (بيت لحم: ديار للنشر 2011[edit]Awards